Archive for October, 2014

I had a chance to sit down and chat with Wes Scantlin of Puddle Of Mudd prior to their gig at The Ranch in San Miguel, California on October 24 and despite his past brushes with TMZ and his neighbor, he is nothing but positive when it come to making new music and getting back out on the road. Getting his "road legs" back under him as this was just the fifth gig on a tour that carries the band until right before Christmas, we chat about his hometown Kansas City Royals playing in the World Series, getting his start musically in K.C., how the band got their name, the Fred Durst connection, playing with Jimmy Page, the band's new single and upcoming album, Rachel Hunter, Elvis' pool, performing enhancing drugs, who's the biggest asshole in the music biz and more. Listen to it all below.

Puddle of Mudd recently released a surprise new single, “Piece of the Action” via iTunes. This is the first new music from the band since 2011, and dropped at the same time fall tour dates were announced. Get it here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/piece-of-the-action-single/id923203773.Wes and the band are also working through more than forty songs for a full-length album release next year, which Wes says will be titled 'Powerchord.'

Jack Bruce, bassist and vocals for the legendary and influential Cream, sadly passed away earlier today at the age of 71 (Oct. 25). A message posted on Bruce’s website read, “It is with great sadness that we, Jack’s family, announce the passing of our beloved Jack: husband, father, granddad, and all round legend. The world of music will be a poorer place without him, but he lives on in his music and forever in our hearts.”

It's been reported that liver disease was the cause of death.

Bruce's music career started in 1962 in London, playing with Alexis Korner in Blues Incorporated. From there he met drummer Ginger Baker formed the Graham Bond Organisation. In 1965, he joined John Mayall‘s Bluesbreakers, which featured Eric Clapton on guitar. A stint with Manfred Mann followed that, then Baker and Clapton approached him in the summer of 1966 about forming a "power trio" that became the legendary Cream.

Jack continued after Cream's breakup, with a stint joining Leslie West and Corky Laing of Mountain, and three stints with Ringo Starr's All Starr Band. He also released multiple solo records, with his last 'Silver Rails’ released in March of 2014.

Baker's former Cream band mates posted the following on tSilver Rails’ in March 2014heir Facebook pages today:

I am very sad to learn of the loss of a fine man, Jack Bruce... My thoughts & wishes are with his family at this difficult time. - Ginger Baker

It is with great sadness that we learned that Jack Bruce had passed away this morning at his home in England.

"He was a great musician and composer, and a tremendous inspiration to me" - Eric Clapton

Our condolences to Jack's family, friends and loved ones. You will live on forever in your mighty contributions to the world of music.

Hal Leonard Books will release a softcover edition of '108 Rock Star Guitars' by photographer/author Lisa S. Johnson on November 11. This exquisite book, originally issued as an embossed, red leatherette-bound hardcover in limited quantity that USA Today called, “…a monster of a coffee table book…” will now be available to a much wider audience at a more affordable retail price of $54.

Hailed as “impressive,” “jaw-dropping,” “masterpiece” and “elegant” by media and artists alike when it was released in October 2013, 108 Rock Star Guitars received widespread accolades for its overall design and the artistry of the images—up-close portraits of the cherished guitars belonging to some of the world’s most iconic players. American Photo magazine named it one of the “Best Photo Books of the Year” for 2013, while Brian Setzer called it, “The classiest guitar book I have ever seen.”

The softcover, with French flaps, includes many of the same features of the original book in a slightly smaller size (9×10.5”): 396 pages, 486 gorgeous color images, reproduced using a six-color printing process, on high quality paper, and cover art that replicates the hardcover’s award-winning design.

“I am thrilled that Hal Leonard, with its global distribution channels, will publish the softcover edition of 108 Rock Star Guitars,” Johnson commented. “Even at a lower price, it was essential that this version maintained the style and beautiful quality of the hardcover edition, and I think anyone who sees this book will appreciate the care and detail that went into the new presentation.”

In 108 Rock Star Guitars, Johnson’s extreme close-up images capture the intimate details of her six-string subjects in a fresh and distinctive way revealing the beauty and art in these magnificent instruments, and giving insight into the personality of the musicians who play them. Additionally, she provides personal anecdotes describing her 17-year quest to photograph these guitars and documents her travels from the backstage hallways of some of the world’s most famous venues to the artists’ private homes.

A portion of the proceeds from sales of the softcover edition will benefit the Les Paul Foundation, which supports music education, engineering and innovation as well as medical research. Pre-order now at www.amazon.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa S. Johnson grew up in an artistic family, where she fell in love with melody and imagery and pursued a career in photography. After a successful 10-year stint working at Eastman Kodak, she met the owner of a vintage guitar shop in Memphis, Tenn., and began exclusively photographing guitars. She lives in Las Vegas.

ABOUT LES PAUL (FOREWORD)

Les Paul was a guitar player, inventor, and recording artist, and an innovator throughout his career. In 1941, he built his first solid-body electric, helping shepherd into existence rock music as we know it. A pioneer whose name graces some of the most beloved six-strings ever manufactured, Paul died in Mahwah, N.J., where he had spent much of his life, in 2009 at the age of 94.

ABOUT THE LES PAUL FOUNDATION:

The mission of the Les Paul Foundation is to honor and share the life, spirit, and legacy of Les Paul by supporting music education, engineering and innovation as well as medical research. The foundation awards grants to music, music engineering and sound programs that serve youth, establishes music-related scholarships at schools and programs for students, provides grants for medical research and programs related to hearing impairment, and supports public exhibits displaying Les Paul’s life achievements. www.lespaulfoundation.org

Check out a few video clips with Lisa sharing her interactions with some of the guitars featured in this fabulous book!

Heart will be bringing some Christmas love this Holiday season as 'Heart & Friends – Home for the Holidays' will be released as CD/DVD, Blu Ray and digital download on November 10 via Frontiers Music SRL. Last December, HEART’s Ann and Nancy Wilson returned to their hometown of Seattle to stage a celebration of the season, gathering a few of their friends to join them in singing holiday classics, personal favorites and some of their own hits.

Special guests Shawn Colvin, Sammy Hagar, Richard Marx and Pat Monahan from Train joined HEART for this unique concert which was taped on December 12th 2013 at the Benaroya Symphony Concert Hall in Seattle. The Wilson sisters performed an array of holiday songs originally written by Joni Mitchell, Harry Nilsson, Bob Dylan and Sammy Hagar in their Christmas set as well as some of HEART’s favorite songs. Colvin, Hagar, Marx and Monahan provided additional vocals on the tunes and/or sing duets with HEART.

“We had a great time putting on this show with special friends for the holidays. Warm moments and great music from all....and some saucy little elves too,” said Ann Wilson. “We have always held the holidays up as a wonderful whimsical time of year and celebrating it in our beloved home town with friends, songs and family was extremely magical,” added Nancy Wilson.

“Heart & Friends: Home For The Holidays” ended a prolific and award-winning year in 2013 for HEART, who have been enjoying a resurgence of popularity since 2010′s “Red Velvet Car”, which became the group’s first Top 10 album in 20 years. Many successful live shows and tours (including a 2011 tour with Def Leppard, and their 2013 “Heartbreaker” tour) have occurred with 2012 seeing the release of “Strange Euphoria”, a definitive career-spanning box set; the arrival of “Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll”, a best-selling autobiography; the announcement of Ann and Nancy Wilson’s HEART star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the release of Fanatic, HEART’s 14th studio album.

Def Leppard, a British band that scorched the U.S. hard rock music scene in the 1980s and ’90s, will hit the stage for a highly anticipated performance at the Chumash Casino Resort’s Samala Showroom at 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2014. Tickets for the show are $95, $115, $135, $155 and $175.

With more than 65 million albums sold worldwide and two prestigious Diamond Awards in the U.S., Def Leppard continues to be a driving force in rock music. Over the course of its career, the band has produced a series of classic, groundbreaking albums that set the bar for generations of music fans and artists alike.

The group’s spectacular live shows and arsenal of hits have become synonymous with their name, leading Def Leppard to be heralded as an institution in both the music and touring industry.

The English rock band formed in 1977 and gained popularity with their 1981 album “High and Dry,” which featured the hit single “Bringing on the Heartache.” Def Leppard’s next studio album, “Pyromania,” turned the group into a household name. The LP boasted hits such as “Rock of Ages,” “Photograph” and “Foolin.”

Both “Pyromania” and “Hysteria” reached diamond-certified status, making Def Leppard one of only five rock bands with two original studio albums selling more than 10 million copies in the U.S.

Fresh off its summer stadium tour, this legendary band will perform in one of the most popular, and intimate, music venues in Santa Barbara County. Don’t miss an opportunity to see Def Leppard when they hit the 1,400-seat Samala Showroom.

Located on Highway 246 in Santa Ynez, California, the Chumash Casino Resort is an age 18-and-older venue. Tickets for all events are available at the Chumash Casino Resort’s Club Chumash or online at www.chumashcasino.com.